Express-News Sportsman of the Year (tie): David Bailiff

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December 28, 2013
: Updated: December 28, 2013 8:47pm

Coach David Bailiff directed the Owls to their first outright conference title in 56 years.

Photo By LM Otero/Associated Press

Rice head coach David Bailiff is drenched in water by defensive end Jared Williams (97) after the end of the Armed Forces Bowl NCAA college football game against Air Force, Saturday, Dec. 29, 2012, in Fort Worth, Texas. Rice won 33-14. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

7. Rice (6-6, regular season over): David Bailiff and the Owls completed a remarkable turnaround to win five of their last six and head bowling for only third time in 51 seasons. (Associated Press)

Photo By Melissa Phillip/Express-News

Rice University head football coach David Bailiff at Rice Stadium Thursday, July 2, 2009, in Houston.

Photo By Smiley N. Pool/Express-News

Rice Owls head coach David Bailiff checks on quarterback Nick Fanuzzi who was shaken up on a play during second quarter action against the Houston Cougars in an NCAA football game at Rice Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 16, 2010, in Houston. ( Smiley N. Pool / Houston Chronicle )

South Texas connection: Bailiff is a 1976 MacArthur High graduate and former player and head coach at Texas State.

Year to remember: Bailiff led Rice to its first outright conference championship in 56 years. Rice went 10-3, dominated Marshall 41-24 in the C-USA championship game and accepted a bid to the Liberty Bowl. Rice will play Mississippi State on Tuesday in Memphis, Tenn.

Signature moment: The Owls took the field at Rice Stadium ready to play Dec. 7, hitting the Thundering Herd with two quick touchdowns to open the C-USA title game. All-purpose back Luke Turner took a pitchout and tossed a 35-yard TD pass to Donta Moore. That was followed by a 75-yard TD pass from quarterback Taylor McHargue to Jordan Taylor. From there, Rice cruised to the victory, holding the most explosive offense in the conference to 371 yards — 131 below its average.

Makings of a champion: After the first eight games of the 2012 season, Bailiff was staring at a 2-6 record. His team promptly won four in a row over Southern Miss, Tulane, SMU and UTEP to become eligible for the postseason. A resounding 33-14 victory over Air Force in the Armed Forces Bowl sent the Owls into the offseason and last fall with considerable momentum.

Quotable:

"This was just a special year. We had 19 fifth-year guys. They stuck with us. We played hard and we never fractured." — Bailiff

"San Antonio has been good to Rice University." — Bailiff, talking about former Rice standouts such as Weldon Humble, Tobin Rote and Tommy Kramer, as well as current players, including pro prospects Phillip Gaines and Charles Ross